PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Animal Association said the movement control order (MCO), imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, has instead led to a spike in cruelty to animals, including at the hands of their owners.
The association’s president, Arie Dwi Andika, said the MCO has not taught people about understanding or sympathising with animals.
“Instead, they have become more cruel towards their pets,” he told FMT.
In some cases pets, Arie noted, pets have been abused as owners find an outlet to deal with the stress the pandemic has triggered.
He said there were those who also abandoned their pets, citing financial difficulties. “They are willing to abandon them as they feel their pets are a burden.”
Arie said the maximum three-year jail term and fines of up to RM100,000 for abusing and killing animals have not prevented brutality towards felines and canines because of lack of awareness and education.
A few months ago, a group of women was reported to have stomped a cat to death, while a man hanged a dog from a tree.
A few individuals were also hauled to court, including a contractor who killed a pregnant cat by stuffing it in a dryer at a laundrette.
Arie also said the movement restrictions have also put a number of animal shelters under pressure after they have taken in abandoned pets.
“These shelters providing sanctuary for abused animals have to get by with limited funds,” he said, adding that owners intending to leave their perts at shelters should foot the bill.
Arie hopes that Putrajaya will view the abuse and abandonment of pets seriously by setting aside an allocation for NGOs and animal shelters.
He also wants the government to increase awareness on the importance of neutering or spaying pets to curb the number of strays.
“Until such efforts are taken, we will see indiscriminate breeding, making it difficult to prevent cruelty towards animals,” he said. - FMT
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